The GHSA lacrosse state semifinals for both classifications are set for Tuesday and Wednesday (schedules linked below), with all championship games being played Saturday. Here's a quick look at how the tournament is shaping up:
If the No. 1-ranked Westminster Wildcats are going to repeat as state champions, they're going to need a road victory over the No. 3-ranked Lovett Lions. Both teams are No. 1 seeds, but Area 1 - the Lions' area - has home-field advantage this year. The Lions have beaten Riverwood (17-5) and Marist (13-4) to reach the semifinals, while the Wildcats have beaten Pace Academy (16-6) and Greater Atlanta Christian (11-4). The Wildcats and Lions met on April 4 at Lovett, with Westminster edging the Lions 7-6. The winner of this matchup will host the state championship.
On the other side of the bracket, the unranked Pope Greyhounds travel to play the No. 2-ranked Northview Titans. Northview is a No. 1 seed with wins of 19-8 over Benedictine and 15-5 over Allatoona. The Greyhounds are a No. 3 seed who beat Holy Innocents' 16-6 and No. 1 seed Decatur 11-8. It took overtime for Northview to beat Pope 8-7 on Mar. 1 in the only matchup this season between the two teams.
The No. 1-ranked Milton Eagles will host the No. 5 Lambert Longhorns for a ticket to the state final. Milton beat Kennesaw Mountain 18-10 in the first round and edged Johns Creek 13-12 in the semifinals. The Longhorns - a No. 3 seed - beat North Gwinnett 11-3 and Harrison 8-7. Lambert has had Milton's number lately, with the Longhorns beating the Eagles 13-11 in their only matchup this season on Mar. 18. It was Lambert who also ended Milton's title defense last season, beating the Eagles 11-10 in last season's state quartefinals. The winner of this matchup will host the state championship.
The No. 3-ranked Roswell Hornets host the No. 8-ranked Walton Eagles on the other side of the bracket. The No. 2-seeded Hornets knocked off Grayson 19-4 and edged defending state champs Centennial 12-10 in the quarterfinals, while No. 3-seeded Walton beat Hillgrove (12-7) and Peachtree Ridge (12-7). Roswell beat Walton 12-9 on April 23.
The No. 1-ranked Kell Lady Longhorns will host the No. 8 Blessed Trinity Lady Titans. The top-seeded Lady Longhorns beat Lovett 16-11 and Northview 18-12, while No. 3-seeded Lady Titans beat Marist 15-6 and McIntosh 13-12. Kell edged Blessed Trinity 15-13 on April 15.
On the other side, the No. 2-ranked Westminster Lady Wildcats are in the hunt for a fifth-consecutive state title and will host the No. 6-ranked St. Pius X Lady Golden Lions in a battle of No. 1 seeds. Westminster topped Holy Innocents' 18-4 and Cambridge 17-15, while St. Pius X beat Wesleyan 20-6 and Pope 13-10. The two teams didn't face off in the regular season.
The No. 1-ranked Milton Lady Eagles are two wins away from their fifth consecutive championship and ninth in the last 10 seasons. To continue their dominance over the state, they'll first host the No. 5-ranked Centennial Lady Knights. Top-seeded Milton has beaten Hillgrove 21-1 and West Forsyth 20-5 thus far and No. 3-seeded Centennial beat Collins Hill 12-7 and Harrison 11-10. Milton and Centennial didn't play each other during the regular season. If Milton wins, it will host the state championship.
On the other side, the No. 2-ranked Lassiter Lady Trojans will host the No. 4-ranked Walton Lady Eagles. The No. 2-seeded Lady Trojans beat Newnan 25-3 and Chattahoochee 14-12, while Walton beat Kennesaw Mountain 23-3 and Mill Creek 23-6. Lassiter beat Walton 10-9 on April 26.
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